Jotul 600CB firelight- got home last nite opened the stove found some red coals, I was thinkin this ought to be easy. Loaded the stove opened the damper all the way, wadded up some news paper to heat the pipe up it felt cool to the touch. Lit paper closed door, then opened ash pan door to force draft. I do this to speed things up. Once I had good wood flame I closed the ash bin door and about 30 secs later I heard something, the best way I could describe it is a smoke explosion inside the stove. Anyhow smoke pushed from all the gasketed seams. I looked out and a big puff came out the pipe. Never had this happen before. My lit off procedure is the same as always. Stoved burned good all nite, any comments please...
Something weird...
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shawneyboy
Minister of Fire
Back puff. there was a bunch of flamable gasses in the stove. When they hit ignition temp and had the o2 they went up in a minor explosion. Not that unusual, but certainly not desireable.
Me personally, I would NEVER, EVER use the ash door open method for airflow. If anything leaving the main door open a smidge to give the o2 the fire needs, but never the ash door. The ash door open can create what amounts to a forge in the stove, and cause intense heat and damage the stove.
see this thread... https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/82107/
Shawn
Me personally, I would NEVER, EVER use the ash door open method for airflow. If anything leaving the main door open a smidge to give the o2 the fire needs, but never the ash door. The ash door open can create what amounts to a forge in the stove, and cause intense heat and damage the stove.
see this thread... https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/82107/
Shawn
remkel
Minister of Fire
Yes, a back puff, but it seems as though you may have had a small obstruction of some sort also. You may want to take a peek up the chimney.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Don't Do This! Don't use the ash pan door to start the fire! Not only can you get some nasty puffbacks, but you also risk a very expensive repair. Warranty will not cover this. We have had more than one posting this year where Jotul owners learned this lesson the hard way. Instead, just leave the door ajar a little.
I read the Jotul book front to rear twice, believe me I saw where they said ash pan door not to be used but... this stove takes for ever and a day to get going. Usually I start some cardboard and newspaper to heat the pipe, than kindling and finally the wood. I had my summit hooked to the same pipe last year before I bought this Jotul, and I just punched the pipe, so I'm sure theres no restriction. Went el cheapo when I got a great deal on the Jotul. Should have gone with the Alderlea T-6 like I wanted because the Summit is just that damn good. IMHO Any whoo, never had this before and I burned the hell out of it last year. Must have had all the right conditions for that, maybe I should have played some numbers that day. Thanks ya'll, love this site, for people who think and live like me.
95/100 times, if you are having problems getting the stove to light off, your fuel source is not well seasoned. The other 5/100 is due to technique.
Those are obviously rough estimates, but the point is this the starting issue is pretty common to read about.
pen
Those are obviously rough estimates, but the point is this the starting issue is pretty common to read about.
pen
Yeah, I'm not 3 years out on my wood like I'd like to be but this year I'm 12-18 mos, next year will be better, still haven't bought a moisture meter. I can def. tell a difference between the Jotul and PE Summit, like the difference between a sports car and a Cadillac. On the same fuel and same pipe. Damper on the Jotul seems a little sloppy from day 1, Summit is spot on.pen said:
I'm wondering if the air control slider is engaging correctly on the Jotul? It should be smooth as butter. Have you pulled the doghouse cover and checked this action? If not, let the stove go cold and check it. It's a simple lever action that moves the slider. If not seated right, the air control will be wonky. It should be visibly apparent if the air control lever is not moving the air control slider valve correctly.
Diesel Smoke said:
We've all been there! It may help you to split some of the wood down smaller to get you through this year. You are going to laugh at how easy things will be next year w/ really good fuel!
pen
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Random thoughts . . .
It's been said . . . but worth repeating . . . don't use the ash pan door to get the fire going. I swear this is a Jotul owner thing . . . almost everyone you hear that does this is a Jotul owner . . . myself included. Reformed now of course . . . learned that mistake early on before seeing the light -- welll actually warped grate and major damage.
As mentioned . . . sliding mechanism on this stove should glide . . . if memory serves me right a few members here had problems with the mechanism . . . may be worth taking the time to open up the doghouse and check things out . . . you may get lucky and only need a dose of graphite powder to loosen things up.
Gotta be careful putting stuff on to hot coals . . . I had a cardboard box that I tossed on to some small coals and shut the door instead of leaving the side door open for a bit until the cardboard caught on fire . . . smoldered for a bit since the coals were so small . . . I think the gas was pooling though . . . as when it went it went in a big "whoooof" and I had some smoke coming out of the top . . . lesson learned . . .
It's been said . . . but worth repeating . . . don't use the ash pan door to get the fire going. I swear this is a Jotul owner thing . . . almost everyone you hear that does this is a Jotul owner . . . myself included. Reformed now of course . . . learned that mistake early on before seeing the light -- welll actually warped grate and major damage.
As mentioned . . . sliding mechanism on this stove should glide . . . if memory serves me right a few members here had problems with the mechanism . . . may be worth taking the time to open up the doghouse and check things out . . . you may get lucky and only need a dose of graphite powder to loosen things up.
Gotta be careful putting stuff on to hot coals . . . I had a cardboard box that I tossed on to some small coals and shut the door instead of leaving the side door open for a bit until the cardboard caught on fire . . . smoldered for a bit since the coals were so small . . . I think the gas was pooling though . . . as when it went it went in a big "whoooof" and I had some smoke coming out of the top . . . lesson learned . . .
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